Faith can be very subjective at times, and people come from all different walks of life with all kinds of different experiences. We all have a different perspective on life, and sometimes a big difference! But to find unity in the Christian faith we need the perspective of Christ.
The world is filled with many types of people. Some are male and female, some old and young, some short and tall, and some are interested in science and some in the arts. Some are interested in doctrine and some are led by their emotions. Some are head people, and some are heart people.
The Apostle Paul gave great counsel to the people in the city of Corinth many years ago about the differences of people, and who to follow. He described these Christians as being immature in 1 Corinthians 3:1, "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ." He explains that they were not "spiritual people" but immature in their Christian faith.
Our perspectives need to mature from an individual one to that of Christ, as we are called to grow up to maturity in Christ. He describes in 3:4, "For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?" To follow men primarily is a mistake as we are called to follow Christ, who is the Savior of our souls. We act like natural people instead of Spiritual people when we follow personalities and individual perspectives.
Each of us has gifts, personalities, experiences, and perspectives that we are called to use as servants for Christ. But let us remember that we need God's perspective for our faith to grow to wisdom in Christ. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 3:21, "So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours ..." In Christ we have all the wisdom of God, and we need to seek the wisdom of Scripture from God's perspective.
FAITH TODAY: 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, "... whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
